Asparagus plant-Greenwich-53×22-8

ABSTRACT

A hybrid asparagus plant having dominant male characteristics providing volume production characterized by high yield ability as a commercial variety, at the same time being resistant to rust (Puccinia asparagi), having a good field tolerance to root rot (Fusarium oxysporum) as well as crown rot (F. moniliforme) with good adaptability for growth in different areas and under widely varying conditions.

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Asparagus Plant which we have denominated for the purpose of identification and use in the trade by the name "Greenwich", and which is in turn the result or at least one of the products of an intensive program of development including selection, growth and inspection as well as monitoring the ultimate production of a number of varieties of which this particular hybrid is an outstanding example.

As is well known the primary objective in any asparagus program such as we have undertaken and as others undertake likewise, is to produce a variety which will be a heavy producer, having good size spears which will be commercially valuable, and of uniform characteristics both as to size, that is the size relating to the diameter as well as length or height as the case may be.

Additionally of course in order to maintain production and to produce and to result in the aforesaid described desirable spears, the plants must be resistant to the various diseases which are known and which have in many cases adversely affected asparagus growth including the resistance to rust (Puccinia asparagi), field tolerance to root rot (Fusarium oxysporum) and likewise of course crown rot (F. moniliforme).

Where the all male characteristics can be found to be dominant, the most desirable production, quantities and characteristics have been found likewise to be present and thus since the male plants live longer and yield more than female plants, obviously result in more desirable commercial varieties of which this is representative and outstanding, and denominated "Geeenwich" as before indicated.

It may be noted that the parent plants, in this instance the seed parent which is denominated as Plant No. 53, is a selection from a thirty-five year old field of Mary Washington asparagus, the staple and well known variety currently available in commerce and having been for many years a very reliable producer where grown properly and under conditions minimizing some of the undesirable problems which often result from asparagus growth such as those heretofore mentioned.

This selection was made in a field near Greenwich, N.J., we have caused the variety to be asexually reproduced by crown division and tissue culture and have found that it does in fact come true in successive generations.

The pollen parent is known to us as "Super Male" Plant No. 22-8, which is the source of the male characteristics hereof and thus very important being a plant of the first selfed generation seedling from a male plant we know as No. 22 which in turn was also a male parent of the variety "Jersey Centennial" the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,998.

Since the program of development of asparagus plants which is carried on by us, is subject to the accumulation of considerable data, we have in fact accumulated such data as is set forth hereinafter.

It may be noted that the data are related to the illustration in the drawing hereof, the drawing showing in FIG. 1, a typical asparagus plant of this variety to which are appended various indicia for reference.

FIG. 2 in the drawing, discloses a typical plant with the color as nearly representative thereof as it is possible to produce in a disclosure of this kind where the color is affected by the density of the plant and thus not in all cases susceptible of specific notation for observation other than by inspection and observation at first hand.

Since the data of production are also important, we have assembled for consideration a table which indicates comparisons in many respects from various areas particularly New Jersey but also in other places, which indicate the wide adaptability of the variety which we have herein disclosed, and indicates particularly and importantly some market information which would be important for any grower and in commercial operation.

Referring therefore to the data first referred to, the same likewise include reference to color which color is selected from the Munsell Limit Color Cascade produced by MacBeth Color and Photometry Div., with notations appropriately referenced thereto.

ASPARAGUS PLANT NO. 53×22-8 MALE HYBRID "GREENWICH"

    ______________________________________                                         Stalk Data                                                                     Number of nodes below first branch                                                                        21.9                                                Number of cm from crown to first branch                                                                   57.8                                                Number of branches         58                                                  Number cm between first and last branch                                                                   154                                                 Internode length in cm between branches                                                                   2.66                                                Number of cladophyll nodes beyond last branch                                                             25.3                                                Number of cm beyond last branch                                                                           14.7                                                Internode length in cm beyond last branch                                                                 0.58                                                Largest stalk diameter in mm                                                                              20.0                                                Flower Data                                                                    Petal tip (yellow)         24-6                                                Petal base (brown)         32-13.5                                             Flower length in mm        6.12                                                Flower width at midpoint in mm                                                                            2.65                                                ______________________________________                                    

It will be noted from this assembly of information that there are certain very definite aspects, and it is noted that the flower petal base color brown, is particularly outstanding in this variety and suggests the male dominance produced.

Turning to the yield data which are assembled in the next summary, it will be seen that the marketable spears are substantially greater in all cases than comparable and related known varieties, most of which and in fact all of which are not patented as far as is known, the common names of those varieties being used in relation thereto.

ASPARAGUS PLANT YIELD DATA - "GREENWICH"

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Bridgeton, N.J. Early yield (two weeks) Fusarium                               infested soil.                                                                          Jumbo.sup.1  Total Marketable.sup.2                                            1981 1982    Mean    1981 1982  Mean                                  ______________________________________                                         53 X 22-8  .sup. 593.sup.4                                                                       1053    823   1219 1752  1486                                Mary Washington                                                                           137     199    168    494  809   652                                ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Mickleton, N.J. Early Yield (2 weeks). Fusarium                                infested soil.                                                                               Jumbo.sup.1                                                                          Total Marketable.sup.2                                     ______________________________________                                         53 X 22-8       .sup. 445.sup.4                                                                        1181                                                   Rutgers Beacon.sup.3                                                                           223      639                                                   ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         Woodstown, N.J. Early Yield (2 weeks). Soil virgin to                          asparagus.                                                                     Jumbo Spears.sup.1  Total Marketable Spears.sup.2                              1980      1981   1982   Mean  1980 1981 1982 Mean                              ______________________________________                                         53 X 22-8                                                                             .sup. 386.sup.4                                                                       606    1087 693   715  1239 1913 1301                            Rutgers                                                                               325    322     516 388   612   766 1110  829                            Beacon.sup.3                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                         Bixby, Oklahoma. Marketable yield snapped spears 9"                            and shorter, 6/16" diameter and larger. Soil virgin                            to asparagus.                                                                              1979 1980      1981   Mean                                         ______________________________________                                         53 X 22-8     .sup. 425.sup.4                                                                       1690      4673 2263                                       Mary Washington                                                                              393     818      2633 1281                                       ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                         Michigan. Soil virgin to asparagus.                                                     Sodus        Oceana County                                                     Marketable Yield.sup.2                                                                      Marketable Yield.sup.2                                            1981 1982    Mean    1981 1982  Mean                                  ______________________________________                                         53 X 22-8  260.sup.4                                                                             161     210   231  1290  760                                 Mary Washington                                                                            99.sup.                                                                              100     100   120   601  360                                 ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 6                                                          ______________________________________                                         Clinton, North Carolina. Soil virgin to asparagus.                                        Marketable Spears.sup.2 (two weeks)                                            1980  1981      1982    Mean                                        ______________________________________                                         53 X 22-8    .sup. 654.sup.4                                                                        1042      1885  1194                                      Robert Super.sup.3                                                                          253      721       694   556                                      ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 7                                                          ______________________________________                                         Guelph, Ont., Canada. Soil virgin to asparagus.                                           Marketable Spears.sup.2 (two weeks)                                            1982                                                                ______________________________________                                         53 X 22-8    1086.sup.4                                                        Mary Washington                                                                              870.sup.                                                         ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 Spears larger than 10/16" diameter, 9" long                             .sup.2 Spears 6/16" and larger diameter, 9" long                               .sup.3 Selection of Mary Washington                                            .sup.4 All data are pounds per acre                                      

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that we have described for information and identification the various outstanding aspects of this new variety which will be known as "Greenwich" and which should be and undoubtedly will be a very well accepted commercial plant for continuing production. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Asparagus Plant as herein shown and described, distinguished particularly as to novelty by the unique combination of homo-genetic characteristics resulting in longer life, with substantially greater production under widely varying conditions of cultivation, having good resistance to rust (Puccinia asparagi), good field tolerance to root rot (Fusarium oxysporum) and also to crown rot (F. moniliforme). 